Jack.



I. A. WEAVER.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED uns. 1912.

1,1 14,829, Patented 001.27, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA A. WEAVER, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE'WEAVER MFG. CO.,

0F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

JACK.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed April 5,

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

1912. Serial No. 688,743.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA A. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Springfield, in the county of Henry and State of Illinois, have' invented certain n ew and useful Improvements in Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to jacks and has particular reference to a novel twin jack for use in connection with automobiles.

In the handling of automobiles either in public or private garages it fequently becomes necessary to elevate the wheels, aigles or car body in order to facilitate. repairs.

Furthermore, it is desirable, when the car` is to remain out of use for any length of time, to relieve the tires of the weight o f the car. This has heretofore been accomplished by the use of four independent jacks. Wheny it becomes necessaryv to make repairs to springs, axle or differential gearing, the'car body must be supported in' order to relieve .the axles from such weight and permit the removal thereof if required. This has heretofore been accomplished by jacking up the car body, then replacing the j ack with blocks or other supports. In such contingency, of course, the car ,must remain in that position until the repairs are effected and the parts assembled. However, it often occurs that after the car is dismantled it is found that some brolen part must be replaced and considerable time elapses before it can be secured. In such case the car must remain where originally placed, oftentimes encumbering space which might otherwise be advantageously used.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to employ twin jacks mounted on a frame and adapted for actuation from a single point. I believe, however, that the const-ruction herein shown and described is novel in many particulars.

The advantages claimed for my construe-` tion are: y

lst: The mounting of the twin jacks on a truck, the frame of the truck being triangular in outline. A particular advantage because of this construction is in that less space is occupied, the device may be'easily moved from place 'to place and the operating handle, later tp be described, is so constructed that it swings into line with the frame and occupies very small space both in shipping and storing.

2nd: The mounting of the twin jacks almost directly over two points of the triangu= lar frame whereby a large proportion of the weightl is carried b two of the wheels, the mounting being su ciently inside of the triangle to obviate the possibility of tipping.

3rd: The provision of the unitary operating gear away from the center of the device. This is an important advantage inasmuch as if placed in the center it would very frcquently interfere with the differential casing and be useless.

4th: The mounting of the operating handle at anangle and with freedom of movement through an arc of 180fdegrees. With this provision the jack may be operated without interference with springs, tail lights, trunk racks, or, in frbnt, with fender or lamps.

5th: The provision in connection with the unitary actuating gear of higli and lo'w s eeds. The change in the speed is brought a out merely by shifting the operating shaft andis advantageous in that the jacks may be raised quickly by the high gear into contact with the device to be lifted, then the gear shifted and the maximum lifting power secured; in connection `with this gear I have provided an extensible handle whereby greater leverage may also bc secured.

6th: The provision of a removable, adjustable cross-bar by means of which the posts of the jacks may be extended to contact the body of the car alone. In this construction the cross-baiis deflected at its middle portion in order that it ma)1 escape interference with the differential casing or transmission shaft; furthermore, the posts referred to may be adjusted universally to meet different conditions.

Other advantages will appear hereinafter and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be understood by reference ing drawings, wherein,

Figure l is a side elevation of a twin iaclt having the cross-bar and extensions applied thereto. the` device being shown in coperation with the bodv of an automobile: Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device nith the crossbar removed; Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the gearing showing the change speed construction; Fig.' it a detail on the 4 line alf-l of Fig. fshowing the means for more particularly to the accompanyretaining the beveled gear against bodily vertical movement: Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the nove" `ank employed in connection with-my device, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of *he extensions secured to the cross-bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be 'seen that my novel jack is mounted on a triangular frame l0, having bearings at the extreme ends in which swiveling casters 11, are mounted. The jacks themselves are mounted in rigid castings 12, forming a portion of the frame, the jacks being located inwardly from the casters. In such position it will be seen that it will be practically impossible to tip the device when in service. The castings 12 are provided with hollow posts 13, having interior vertical slots 14 therein. At the lower end as shown, only the portion of the post having the groove may be continued.

The upper end of the post 13, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a transverse eXtension or lip 15, adapted for coperation with a Hange' 16, carried by a beveled gear 17. This gear 17 is threaded and engages the threaded standard 18, which is the elevatingl device or jack. The weight carried by the standard is transferred to the casting 13, through the beveled gear 17, and a series of ball bearings 19, running in races in the gear and in a hardened wearing plate 20, seated on the top of the post 13. At the lower end of the standard 18 I lace a pin 21, cooperating with the slot 14 1n the post. This is to prevent the rotation of the standard but permit its vertical movement. The upper end of the standard 18 has a Suitable cap plate 22, riveted or otherwise secured thereto. In order to assemble the parts just described, the ball bearings 19 are placed in the race on the plate 20, the gear 17 is tilted or rocked in such manner that the flange 16 may be entered under the lip 15, then the standard 18 Ywithout the cap 22 is inserted from beneath, the gear rotated to elevate the standard until the pin 21 coperates with the groove 14. The cap 2 may then he applied and thereafter the standard cannot be lowered 'tar enough so that the pin 2l is free from the slot 14. Thus far the description of the construction of the post, standard and beveled gear is identical in both of the jacks.

In suitable bearings 23 in the casting 12, is mounted a shaft 24. Secured to one end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 1, is a beveled gear 25, meshing with the gear 17 and to the other end of the shaft vare pinned orl keved two gears 2li-27. The gear 26 is in the form oi' a cylinder and is provided with gear teeth on the two faces, the teeth 28 meshing with the gear 17 and the teeth 2!) meshing with a pinion 30, carried by an ac tuating stem 31. ,The gear 17 also keyed jection 39, in the form of a rivet.

to shaft 24, 'meshes with a gear 32, also carried by the stem 31. Neither of the gears 30-32 is permanently connected to the stem 31. However, each of the gears is provided with a radial slot 30"-32L and the stem with a transverse pin 33, adapted for coperation therewith. The parts are so arranged that by bodily shifting the stem longitudinally the pin 33 may be caused to engage with either of the gears 30v-32. When 1n engagementwith the gear 32-Which is the larger gear-motion will be transmitted to the shaft 24 through the gear 27, which is much smaller than the gear 32; thereby the motion will be multiplied. However, when the stem is in engagement with the gear 30- which is small-motion will be transmitted to the shaft 24 through the large 'ear 26. Thus it will be seen tha-t by a si'mp e longitudinal movement of the Stem the speed ratio may be changed, The'stem 31 and gear 32 are mounted 1n=bearings in a casting 34, this casting also providing a bearing for the shaft 24 and being freely rotatable thereon to permit the shifting of the stem in an'are, the shaft 24 being the pivotal point. If desired, the stem 31 may be mounted within a hollow casing or tube 35. To the upper end of the stem 31, as shown in Fig. 5, a crank 36 is pinned. This crank is hollow and provides for a telescoping extension 37 carrying a handle 38. The extension is prevented from being pulled out of engage'- ment with the crank 36 by means of a pro- The eX- tension is arrangedto be removably held in a plurality of positions by means of a spring-pressed ball 40 held in a recess 41 in the crank 36, the ball coperating with spier-ical depressions 42 in the extension 37. Il v means of this extension crank, the leverage exerted by the operator may be increased for heavy loads or made short as desired.

As best shown in Fig. 1, I have provided for cooperation with the body ot' a vehicle by means oF jack standard extensions. These extensions lil are provided with caps 44 on their ripper ends and are held in a socket composed of two halves 4451-46. The standard is merely guided in the. socket 45, its vertical adjustment Abeing accomplished by means of cotters 47, adapted to be seated in any ot' the apertures 48 in the standard. 'l'lul two parts 45 -ell' are secured together by means ot a bolt 4S), the contactiner faces ci the parts being toothed as at 50, wthereby the part 45, larri-ying the extension 43, may be plared in any desired angular position. The part /Hy is provided with a slot in which is seated the connecting or cross-bar 51,

and is adjustable lengthwise of the bar, being held in adjusted position b a set scri-w 52. The bar 51 iL offset or (eileeted at 53 in order to permit of the operation of the` device without interference with the ldifferential gear case. The bar is provided with clips '54, and set screws 55, by I neans of which the bar may be secured on the caps 22 of the jacks. The cross-bar and extensions may be easily removed and the jacks caused to coperate directly with they axles as required.

The part1cular advantage of the triangular frame and the swivel mounting of the operating handle is in that the handle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 may be folded over onto the frame, thus making the whole device compact either in shippingr or when out of servicein the garage. This function. of rotatability of the operating handle is also of value in'the garage, as' the handle is normally down and out of'the way and the car maybe driven over the ack. l Many of the expedients shown and described in connection with the device may be modified by skilled mechanics and such modifications I consider to be within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a triangular frame having swiveling caster supports at three points, jacks mounted at two of the corners of said triangular frame, the caster supports contiguous to said jacks being extended outwardly beyond said frame, and a single operating means for both said jacks, said operating means being located at a point close to one of said jacks, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movable frame having a plurality of jacks mounted thereon, gearing whereby both said jacks may be operated simultaneously, said gearing being located at a point close to one of said jacks, and an operating shaft for said gearing, said shaft being angularly mounted and extending to a oint substantially midway between the two Jacks, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a movable frame having a plurality of jacks mounted thereon, gearing whereby both said jacks may be operated simultaneously, said gearing being located at a point close to one of said jacks, and an extending flange,

operating shaft for said. gearing, said shaft being angularly mounted and movable in the arc of a circle about a pivot at the point or" connection to the gearing, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a triangular frame, jacks mounted on said frame, means for operating said jacks from a single point, an operating shaft mounted at an angle and adapted to be swung about a pivot close to one of said jacks, whereby said operating shaft may be swung into line with .one of the members of said frame, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a plurality of jacks mounted on said frame, means for actuating said jacks. said actuating means including a longitudinally movable stem, an o erating crank and a plurality of gears, tge parts being arranged whereby the speed of operation of .said jacks may be changed relative to the speed of the actuating means by the shifting of said stem, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a triangular frame, jacks mounted at two corners of said frame, a unitary operating means for both jacks, the operating rod being projected from said frame at an angle and having the capacit of rotation about the jack operating sha as an axis, the operating rod when in one position lying substantially in line with one member of the triangular frame, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, a jack carried thereby, said jack including a threaded standard and a gear meshing therewith, said gear being providedwith a continuous, inwardly and a lip on said frame projecting outwardly therefrom, said li be- 1ng adapted to coperate with the ange on the gear to prevent the disengagement of the gear from the frame while in mesh with said threaded standard, substantially as described.

IRA A. WEAVER.

Witnesses:

F. M. RooEnsoN, S. M. IAO'I'I.

loo 

